Pre-formed sections for platforms or the like



March 6, 1962 w. E. BUCHANAN PRE-FORMED SECTIONS FOR PLATFORMS OR THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 20, 1958 INVENTOR. Warren E Buchanan March 6, 1962 w. E. BUCHANAN PRE-FORMED SECTIONS FOR PLATFORMS OR THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 20, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Vl a/v'w E. Buchanan @MQQ A TTDRNEYS United States Patent 3,023,834 PRE-FORMED SECTIONS FOR PLATFORMS OR THE LIKE Warren E. Buchanan, Delta, Ohio (221 S. Lynn St., Bryan, Ohio) Substituted for abandoned application Ser. No. 709,978, Jan. 20, 1958. This application Apr. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 24,852

2 Claims. (Cl. 182-223) This invention relates to pre-formed sections which may be integrated into scaffold and other platforms or the like, said sections having shaped edges that permit two or more sections to be securely joined in an easy, quick manner.

Heretofore, platforms have generally been made of wooden planks that are comparatively heavy and hard to handle. Planks are also resilient and tend to bend when a weight is applied thereto, thus affording an uneasy footing for workmen thereon. Also, the planks are laid across the scaffolding structure and frequently tend to shift. Occasionally metal sections have been employed in such use, telescoping into one another to provide various longitudinal extents but having no adequate means for laterally joining the sections. Hence, these metal sections have been made in a width equal to the width desired for the platform or have been laterally joined by nuts and bolts or similar fasteners. When of a single width, the sections are difficult to handle and when joined by nuts and bolts or other fasteners, their assembly and disassembly are tedious and time consuming particularly when done at a considerable distance above the ground on the platform structure.

A basic problem thus arising in connection with such sections is achieving proper design to form a joint between two sections that will permit easy assembly and disassembly yet still provide a structurally safe unit.

In view of the aforementioned and other problems, new sections have been developed of light-weight extruded metal that may be easily and securely assembled into various structures such as scaffolding platforms, floors or walls.

It is an object of the invention to provide a platform or the like of sections that may be easily assembled and disassembled.

It is another object of the invention to provide a structurally sound platform made of separable sections.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a light-weight section embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed, cross-sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2 shown connected to a portion of another section, and in dotted lines partially connected;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing how two sections of the type of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be longitudinally connected; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational side view showing two longitudinally connected sections and their joining member, with parts broken away.

Section 11 of FIGS. planar plate 12 and a series tegrally connected thereto. Each rib has a sub-flange 14 at its lower extremity which contains projections 16 on that surface of the flanges closer to plate 12, the purpose of which will be subsequently explained. Cleats 17 are formed on the upper portion of plate 12 above each of the ribs 13 and adjacent the lateral edges of the plate.

1 and 2 comprises a generally of ribs 13 which may be in- These preferably extend the length of the plate to provide secure footing thereon.

At each of the lateral edges of the plate 12, specially shaped flanges 18 and 20 extend downwardly and may be integrally connected to the plate. Flange 18 has a generally semi-cylindrical groove 21 formed by a lip or ridge 22 having a generally semi-cylindrical contour, and portions 23 and 24 normal to plate 12 and connected in laterally spaced relation by a portion 25 generally parallel to the plate. The lower surface of portion 25 has a slight radius approximately equal to the distance it is disposed from the axis of groove 21 which is disposed substantially directly above this portion. The lower extremity of flange 18 has a sub-flange 26 extending inwardly in the same plane as, and substantially similar to, flanges 14. It also has a similar projection 16.

Flange 20 has at its upper edge a ridge or downturned lip 27 having a generally semi-cylindrical contour, and forming a semi-cylindrical groove 28. It also has portions 39 and 31 normal to plate 12 and connected by portion 32 generally parallel to the plate. The upper surface of the portion 32 has a radius substantially equal to that of the lower surface of portion 25. A sub-flange 33 extends inwardly from the lower extremity of portion 31 and in the same plane as sub-flanges 14 and 26. It also contains a projection 16 which is at the same distance from a plane extending through the inner surface of portion 30 as the other projections are from the adjacent surfaces of ribs 13 or portion 24. All of the projections are disposed at equal distances from the longitudinal edge of the section.

Referring to FIG. 3, two portions of two laterally adjacent sections 11 are shown connected at their lateral edges by means of flanges 18 and 20. Flange 20, also shown by dotted lines, is initially disposed at an angle to flange 18 with lip 27 coacting with groove 21. Flange 20 and its corresponding section are then moved into position adjacent flange 18 by being pivoted about the superimposed axes of groove 21 and lip 27. As flange 20 is pivoted toward flange 18, ridge 22 nests with groove 28 and portions 30, 31, and 32 nest with portions 23, 24, and 25 respectively. The lower surface of portion 25 may be at a slightly greater distance from the axes of groove 21 and lip 27 than is the upper surface of portion 32. In this manner, the two surfaces nest in a friction fit and hold lip 27 and groove 28 in firm, secure relationship with groove 21 and ridge 22 and prevent lateral displacement of the sections that would separate the respective grooves and lips.

By forming portions 25 and 32 with their adjacent surfaces having substantially equal radii with common centers superimposed with the axes of groove 21 and lip 27, the two portions fit together smoothly and with minimum effort. Furthermore, all portions of the surfaces are in contact to provide a maximum contact area and a more secure friction fit. In addition, any force exerted is spread over a larger area and is uniformly applied.

The longitudinal edges of two sections may also be joined as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 where two sections are shown aligned and ready to be joined. Accordingly, a connecting member 34, generally U-shape in crosssection, is inserted into the longitudinally extending channel or space formed by ribs 13 and plate 12 of each section with side walls 35 of the member adjacent the ribs and with edge flanges 36 of the member adjacent the plate. The member is inserted into this space until the end of wall 37 of the member, whose lateral edge portions contact flanges 14, abuts projections 16. These projections are spaced from the longitudinal ends of sections 11 a distance equal to half the length of member 34. When the other section is moved into place, its projections will abut the opposite end of member 34 to maintain it It will be understood that the number of sections which may be laterally and longitudinally secured to one another is. practically unlimited. Also, each section may have additional or fewer ribs 13 and be of correspondingly greater or narrower width.

A member 38 is attached to the central portion of wall 37 of member 34 and is adapted to fit on a cross bar of. the scaffolding structure. This prevents longitudinal shifting of the sections with respect to the structure.

' The inventionthus basically comprises platform or the like made by joining two or more sections. The sections have a flange along each. of the lateral adjacent edges with at least a lip or ridge on one section adapted to nest with a groove on the other. The flanges have portions that coact with one another to prevent displacement of the sections in a manner separating the lip and groove.

The above detailed description has been intended to serve in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, the scope of the invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A scaffold platform or the like comprising a plurality of sections, each of which sections comprises a rectangular plate, a first flange attached to said plate adjacent an edge thereof, a second flange attached to said plate adjacent a second edge thereof parallel to said first edge, a ridge on each. of said sections adjacent the first edge, said'seco'nd edge having a groove adjacent thereto, said first flange having a portion generally parallel to said plate and said second flange having a portion generally parallel to said plate, said groove, ridge, and parallel A single member 34 is shown in FIG. 4 for clarity of, illustration.

portions cooperating with mating portions of other sections to prevent lateral separation thereof, at least one reinforcing web parallel to said flanges and attached to the under side of said plate, a first subaflange at the lower edge of said first flange and extending inwardly toward said web, a second sub-flange at the lower edge of said-second flange and extending inwardly toward said web, a third sub-flange at the lower edge of said web extending outwardly toward both of said flanges, the distances from the extremities of said third sub-flange to said web all being equal, said sub-flanges, flanges, webs, and plate defining channels, at least one connecting member in slidable contact with said sub-flanges, flanges, web, and portions of said plate of at least one of said channels, and which fits into a corresponding channel defined by a similar section aligned with said platform section in endto-end relationship, and a U-shaped bracket on one side of said connecting member extending away from the plates of the sections which it connects and. beyond the flanges and sub-flanges thereof to receive a cross bar of a scaffolding structure.

2. A platform according to claim l and stop means on the surfaces of said sub-flanges toward said plates, said stop members being aligned with said connecting member to limit movement thereof into the channels.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

